at the white house, president barack obama immediately left a reception to send this message of gratitude. >> the day he was released from prison, he gave me a sense of what human beings can do when they are guided by their hopes and not by their fears. and like so many around the globe,ky not fully imagine my own life without the example that nelson mandela set. >> and so long as i live,ly do what i can to learn from him. >> world leaders say he was for all the face of forgiveness. >> nelson mandela was a chide for justice, and human inspiration. many around the world were entrenched by his selfless struggle for human dignity, equality, and freedom. excellent tonight, one of the brightest lights of our world has gone out. nelson mandela was not just a hero of our time, but a hero of all time. >> a legend for the powerful, and the people on the streets of time square from all around the globe. it is a big loss for all of us. >> god bless all the people he fought for. i hope his legacy lives on. remembering how he fought, and how he lived. >> well, among the many tributes was this one. fro